Safety cap operated by a key

ABSTRACT

A closure cap in combination with a container in which the container is provided with a shoulder having a key slot and in which the cap is rotatably supported on the container with the bottom edge of the cap having a key slot and in which the only way to remove the cap from the container is to position the two key slots relative to each other so that a key may be inserted into said cooperating key slots and the cap may be pried off only by turning the key.

United States Patent [191 Lerner Aug. 13, 1974 SAFETY CAP OPERATED BY AKEY lnventor: Nathan B. Lerner, Chicago, 111.

Assignee: W. Braun Company, Chicago, 111.

Filed: Jan. 12, 1973 Appl. No.: 323,040

US. Cl 215/9, 215/41, 215/46 R Int. Cl. A61j 1/00, B65d 55/02 Field ofSearch 215/9, 41, 46 R; 220/60 [5 6] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 8/1967 Grim et al 215/9 12/1969 Tunstall 215/9 PrimaryExaminer--George T. Hall Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Max R. Kraus 5 7]ABSTRACT A closure cap in combination with a container in which thecontainer is provided with a shoulder having a key slot and in which thecap is rotatably supported on the container with the bottom edge of thecap having a key slot and in which the only way to remove thecap fromthe container is to position the two key slots relative to each other sothat a key may be inserted into said cooperating key slots and the capmay be pried off only by turning the key.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures SAFETY CAP OPERATED BY A KEY BRIEF SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION Due to public awareness of the ease with which closurecaps may be removed from bottles or other containers, which could resultin serious consequences particularly to children who gain access to thecontents of the container or bottle, various types of safety caps arebeing provided. One of the objects of this invention is to provide asafety cap for use in conjunction with a bottle or other container andso constructed that the cap may not be removed except by the use of akey which is inserted into cooperating key slots to pry the cap from theneck of the container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a safety cap whichprovides an effective seal and closure for the bottle or container andwherein the cap may be continuously rotated relative to the containerwithout causing the removal of the cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the bottle and cap with the key slot ofeach cooperatively positioned in a staggered or offset relation topermit the insertion of the key for prying off the cap.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view from the side opposite that of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a central cross-sectional view of the cap and the bottle.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the cap and the bottle.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cap and bottle with the key slot ofeach cooperatively positioned to receive the key.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the cap and theupper neck portion of the bottle; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 77 of FIG. 5 showing theslot engaging portion of the key.

The bottle or container is generally designated at 10 and the safety capis generally designated at 12. The bottle has an inwardly tapering body14 provided with a top shoulder 16 and a reduced neck 18. The top edge20 of the mouth of the neck has a horizontal portion 22 and a downwardlyinclined portion 24 extending to the interior of the mouth. An exteriorannular bead 26 is adjacent the top edge 20 and said annular bead curvesinwardly at its lower end as at 28 and merges with the wall of the neck18. The shoulder 16 of the bottle is provided with an upwardly facingrecess which forms a key slot or keyhole 30.

The cap 12 comprises a concave-shaped top wall 32 and a dependingannular skirt 34 which inclines outwardly to give the cap a truncatedcone-shaped configuration. Depending from the top wall 32 into theinterior of the cap is an annular sealing member 36 with the upperportion 38 thereof extending vertically and the lower portion 40tapering and inclined inwardly. The inner wall of the skirt of the capis provided with an annular head 42 having a radius which iscomplementary to the radius of the portion 28 of the bead 26 on theneck. The bottom edge 43 of the skirt of the cap has a downwardly facingrecess to provide a key slot or keyhole 44.

In order for the key to operate, the said two key slots 30 and 44 areadapted to be alined in an offset or staggered relation, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 5, to permit insertion of the key. The cap may also beprovided with a plurality of spaced smaller false slots 46 of a lesserwidth than the cap key slot 44, which smaller false slots are to make itmore difficult, particularly for a child, to recognize the proper keyslots and their positioning relative to each other.

The key 48 is generally flat except for the front portion with is to beinserted in the two cooperating key slots. The front portion of the keyis shaped to provide a flat upper portion 50 and a stepped-down oroffset lower flat portion 52, the width of said portions being such thatthe upper portion 50 enters the key slot 44 of the cap and the lowerportion 52 enters the key slot 30 of the bottle.

When the cap is applied to the neck of the bottle by snapping itthereon, the interfitting relationship can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and6. The top edge 20 at the mouth of the neck is confined between theinner annular sealing ring 36 and the annular bead 42 on the skirt ofthe cap and the neck bead 26 engages the inner wall and the bead 42 ofthe cap, with the radiuses of the beads in contact with each other. Theinclined surface 24 of the top edge of the neck will make a sealingcontact with the adjacent undersurface 32 of the end wall 32 of the cap.As can best be seen in FIG. 6, the undersurface 32 is tangental to theinclined surface 24. The annular sealing ring 36 extends into the mouthof the neck to effect a perfect seal so that liquid or other materialcontained in the bottle or container cannot seep through between theinner ring and the neck.

The bottom edge 43 of the skirt of the cap is contiguous to the shoulder16 of the bottle and the space therebetween is so insignificant that itwould be impossible to insert a coin or an instrument therebetween forthe purpose of improperly prying off the cap. The cap may be rotatedrelative to the bottle without the possibility of removal of the capfrom the bottle. The height of the cap is such that a child could notgrasp it for the purpose of prying it off.

It is only when the two key slots 30 and 44 are positioned in astaggered relationship, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, wherein the cap keyslot is in staggered or offset relation to the bottle key slot that thekey may be inserted in both said key slots and when so inserted the keyis manually turned or twisted so that the cap is pried off from the neckof the container. Both the cap and container are made of a polyethylenematerial so that when the key is inserted and turned there is sufficientpliability in the skirt of the cap as well as in the neck of the bottleto permit flexing so that the cap is pried from the neck. The exteriorsurface of the skirt of the cap is provided with serrations or ribs 54and the bottom of said ribs terminate as at 56, short of the bottom edge43 of the skirt, as can best be seen in FIG. 3.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination a container and a closure cap therefor, said containerhaving a key slot, a cap rotatably supported on said container to closethe mouth of said container, said cap having a top wall and an annularskirt, said skirt having a key slot in the bottom edge thereof, saidcap, key slot and container key slot adapted when cooperatively arrangedto receive a key so that by turning the key the cap is pried from thecontainer.

2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the container has ashoulder with the container key slot formed in said shoulder.

3. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the cap is rotatedrelative to the container so that when the cap key slot is positioned inan offset or staggered relationship to the container key slot, the keywhich has a complementary offset key slot engaging portion can beinserted into said key slots.

4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the container is abottle which has a reduced neck and in which the body of the bottle hasa shoulder with the bottle key slot in said shoulder.

5. A structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the bottom edge of theskirt and the shoulder are juxtapositioned so that it is impossible toinsert any tool for prying off the cap and the only means for prying offsaid cap is by means of said key when the key slots are properlypositioned.

6. A structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the cap is made ofpolyethylene material and in which when the key is inserted and turnedthe skirt of the cap will be sufficiently distorted to permit prying offof said cap.

7. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the container is abottle and in which the cap is provided with an inner annular sealingring which engages the inside of the neck of the bottle adjacent themouth thereof.

8. A structure as set forth in claim 7 in which the bottle is providedwith an outer annular bead adjacent the mouth thereof and in which thecap is provided with an annular bead positioned below the top of thecap, which cap annular bead is positioned contiguous to the bottleannular bead so that the cap may be rotated with respect to the bottlewithout removing the cap from said bottle.

9. A structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the cap is provided witha concave top wall with the undersurface thereof having a curved radiusand in which the top edge of the bottle has an inner inclined surfacewhich is tangentally engaged by the curved radius of the cap and inwhich the lower portion of the sealing ring is tapered and inclinesinwardly.

10. A structure as set forth in claim 9 in which the bottle and cap areeach formed of a polyethylene plastic material.

1. In combination a container and a closure cap therefor, said containerhaving a key slot, a cap rotatably supported on said container to closethe mouth of said container, said cap having a top wall and an annularskirt, said skirt having a key slot in the bottom edge thereof, saidcap, key slot and container key slot adapted when cooperatively arrangedto receive a key so that by turning the key the cap is pried from thecontainer.
 2. A structure as set forth in claim 1 in which the containerhas a shoulder with the container key slot formed in said shoulder.
 3. Astructure as set forth in claim 1 in which the cap is rotated relativeto the container so that when the cap key slot is positioned in anoffset or staggered relationship to the container key slot, the keywhich has a complementary offset key slot engaging portion can beinserted into said key slots.
 4. A structure as set forth in claim 1 inwhich the container is a bottle which has a reduced neck and in whichthe body of the bottle has a shoulder with the bottle key slot iN saidshoulder.
 5. A structure as set forth in claim 2 in which the bottomedge of the skirt and the shoulder are juxtapositioned so that it isimpossible to insert any tool for prying off the cap and the only meansfor prying off said cap is by means of said key when the key slots areproperly positioned.
 6. A structure as set forth in claim 2 in which thecap is made of polyethylene material and in which when the key isinserted and turned the skirt of the cap will be sufficiently distortedto permit prying off of said cap.
 7. A structure as set forth in claim 1in which the container is a bottle and in which the cap is provided withan inner annular sealing ring which engages the inside of the neck ofthe bottle adjacent the mouth thereof.
 8. A structure as set forth inclaim 7 in which the bottle is provided with an outer annular beadadjacent the mouth thereof and in which the cap is provided with anannular bead positioned below the top of the cap, which cap annular beadis positioned contiguous to the bottle annular bead so that the cap maybe rotated with respect to the bottle without removing the cap from saidbottle.
 9. A structure as set forth in claim 8 in which the cap isprovided with a concave top wall with the undersurface thereof having acurved radius and in which the top edge of the bottle has an innerinclined surface which is tangentally engaged by the curved radius ofthe cap and in which the lower portion of the sealing ring is taperedand inclines inwardly.
 10. A structure as set forth in claim 9 in whichthe bottle and cap are each formed of a polyethylene plastic material.